To see what impact online behaviors might have on mental
well-being, Leeds
University researchers surveyed
1319 internet users about their online habits, symptoms of depression and
satisfaction with life in general.

The Findings

Of
these 1319 people, 18 were classified as being internet addicts

As a
group, these 18 people displayed far greater symptoms of moderate to
severe depression than 18 control (non internet addicted) subjects.

The 18
internet addicts in the study were more likely to spend time online
looking at pornography, chatting or internet gaming. The researchers
suggest that depressed people may be using internet communication and
interactions as a substitute for real-world social interaction.

The researchers advertised in online social networking sites
for participant volunteers and obtained a sample of ages from 16 to 51, with an
average age of 18.

Lead researcher Catriona Morrison, who published the study
in the journal, Psychopathology, commented on the findings, saying, "The
internet now plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied
by a darker side. While many of us use the internet to pay bills, shop and send
e-mails, there is a small subset of the population who find it hard to control
how much time they spend online, to the point where it interferes with their
daily activities."

Morrison concedes that she cannot say whether depressed
people are more likely to be drawn to compulsive internet use or whether very
heavy internet use can cause depression.

The Critics

Not everyone, however, is buying into this alarming link between
heavy internet use and depression; some experts have called into question Morrison’s
research and interpretations. Among the criticisms levied:

The
subject pool was not taken at random

The
percentage of internet users who scored as depressed, 1.2%, is far below the
estimated 5% of the population who suffer from depression – making claims
that heavy internet use causes depression less credible

Social
connections via the internet can in some cases help depressed people cope
better